Hot food table



H. B. JONES HOT FOOD TABLE March 31, 1970 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1

Filed Feb. 28, 1968 Q MWW 4 7- roam/(r:

March 1970 H. B. JONES 3,503,378

HOT FOOD TABLE Filed Feb. 28, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 //v ve/v roe United States Patent US. Cl. 126--33 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A plurality of steam wells in a hot food table are connected to a source of water through a conduit system having a single float control means for maintaining a constant water level in all of the wells. A first valve controls the flow of water into the float control means, and a second valve controls the flow of water from the wells to a drain. The wells are filled and drained through manifold pipes by regulating the valves. A removable standpipe may be used in any of the wells to keep it from being filled or drained when the other wells are filled or drained.

This invention is directed to a table or counter having a plurality of steam wells for keeping food warm, and is particularly concerned with means for maintaining a constant water level in all of the steam wells. All of the wells are connected to a manifold pipe that serves as an inlet and leads to a common drain. A float control compartment is kept filled to a predetermined level by a pipe connecting it to a source of water under pressure and having a manually operated valve therein. The float control compartment has an overflow pipe connected to the drain. A manually operated drain valve that is normally closed is located between the manifold pipe and the drain, upstream of the connection between the overflow and the drain, so that it does not interfere with the passage of the overflow from the compartment to the waste outlet.

The valve in the inlet pipe connecting the float control compartment to the source of water is normally open so that water can flow continuously into the float control compartment, and from there to the steam wells, to replace the water that is lost from the wells through evaporation.

The inlet valve is closed, and the drain valve is opened, to drain the wells. A standpipe or plug may be inserted into the drain outlet of any well to prevent draining it when the other wells are drained. Similarly, the stand pipe or plug will keep water from entering any one well when the water is flowing into the other wells.

Suitable structure by means of which the above mentioned and other advantages of the invention may be attained will be fully described in the following specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a hot table embodying the invention; and

FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic view of the structure of FIGURE 1, with the frame structure omitted.

Referring to FIGURE 1, a table or counter 11 has a top 12 provided with a plurality of openings 13 each of which is adapted to receive a steam well 14. Each of the steam wells is provided with a gas or electric burner 15 for heating it. The burners are preferably centrally disposed under each of the steam wells 14, and each of the burners is controlled individually so that heat is not wasted on any of the steam wells not actually in use.

The steam wells 14 are filled to a predetermined maximum level by a conduit system comprising a pipe 16 leading from a source of water to a float control com- 3,503,378 Patented Mar. 31, 1970 .partment 17 and a manifold pipe 18 connected to the compartment 17 by a branch 26, and a plurality of branches 19 extending from the pipe 18 into the lower portion of each of the steam wells 14. The compartment 17 houses the float control means for maintaining a constant water level in the steam wells. The manifold pipe 18 is connected to a branch 26 leading from the lower portion of the compartment 17 to permit the flow of water from the compartment to the steam wells. The pipe 16 has a manually operated valve 21 located between the source of water and the compartment 17. The valve 21 normally remains open, and is closed only when the steam wells are to be drained, as hereinafter described.

The float control means includes a valve 22 that is housed within the compartment 17, and a float 23 for operating the valve 22. The valve 22 remains open as long as the water in the compartment 17 is below the predetermined maximum level for which the system is set. The float closes the valve 22 when it reaches the uppermost limit of its travel, and opens the valve whenever it falls below its uppermost limit.

The incoming flow of water through the pipe 16 is continuous until either valve 21 or 22 is closed. When any of the water evaporates from the steam wells, it is replaced by Water flowing from the compartment 17, thus reducing the water level in said compartment and causing the valve 22 to open temporarily to activate the flow of water through the pipe 16 into the compartment 17. This flow continues until the water level in the steam wells and in the float control compartment again reaches the predetermined maximum. If it is desired to fill one or more of the steam wells without filling all of them, the upper end of the branch 19 of each steam well that is not to be filled is closed by a standpipe extending above the predetermined maximum water level at which the float 23 will close the valve 22. It may also be closed by any suitable plug.

The float control compartment is provided with an overflow pipe 24 that prevents the water in the compartment 17 from reaching an excessively high level in the event that the float control means fails to close the valve 22. The upper end of the pipe 24 is open, and is located slightly above the desired water level. The pipe 24 is connected to the drain pipe 25 tht leads to a waste outlet. If the float 23 fails to close the valve 22 at the proper time, the water level in the steam wells and in the float control compartment continues to rise until it reaches the upper end of the pipe 24. The excess water then begins to spill into the open upper end of the pipe 24 and flows through the pipes 24 and 25 to the waste outlet.

When the steam wells are to be drained, the valve 21 is manually closed to prevent inflow of the water through the pipe 16. Each of the steam wells has an opening 27 in its bottom, and the upper end of each branch 19 is connected to one of the openings 27. A manually operated valve 29 is located between the manifold 18 and the drain 25 upsteam of the connection between the pipes 24 and 25, so that it does not interfere with the overflow from the pipe 24. The valve 29 normally remains closed, and is opened only when the steam wells are to be drained. If it is desired to drain one or more of the steam wells without draining others, the upper end of the pipe 19 of each steam well that is not to be drained is closed, either by a standpipe extending above the water level of said steam well, or by any suitable plug, before the valve 29 is opened.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described in considerable detail, it will be understood that the description thereof is intended to be illustrative, rather than restrictive, as many details of construction may be modified or changed without departing 3 from the spirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is not desired to be restricted to the exact structure described.

What is claimed is:

1. A hot food table comprising a plurality of steam wells, a conduit system including a manifold pipe connecting all of said steam wells to a source of water and to a drain pipe leading to a Waste outlet, a first valve means located between said manifold pipe and said source of water, a second valve means located between said steam wells and said drain pipe, a float control compartment located between said manifold pipe and said source of water, an overflow pipe connecting said float control compartment to said drain pipe downstream of said second valve means, a single float control means in said float control compartment for maintaining a constant water level in said steam wells, whereby said float control means is effective to maintain a predetermined constant water level in said steam Wells when said first mentioned valve means is opened and said second valve means is closed.

2. A structure as recited in claim 1, in which said drain pipe connects said manifold pipe and said overflow pipe to said waste outlet, and said second valve means is located between said manifold pipe and said drain pipe upstream of the connection between said overflow pipe and said drain pipe whereby the overflow from said float control compartment is independent of said second valve means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,433,157 10/ 1922 Schwimmer 126-33 2,128,852 8/1938 Roach 12633 2,976,391 3/1961 Carlson 126-33 X EDWARD G. FAVORS, Primary Examiner 

